2023 OEFFA Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series
Get a taste of the farm!
Featuring 13 organic and sustainable farms and businesses, the 2023 OEFFA Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series opens the door for farmers, educators, and eaters to learn about agriculture and local foods on the farm. The series also includes a number of workshops and special events, ranging from exploring farmers’ markets to learning how to make jam.
Click here to view the 2023 OEFFA Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series brochure.
Series partners: Central State University Extension, Common Greens, FairShare CSA Coalition, Holistic Management International, and Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance.
Quick Links: Farm Tours | Workshops
OEFFA believes farmers’ learning experiences should be accessible, diverse, and inclusive, addressing real-life issues, incorporating experiential knowledge, and encouraging personal and farm growth.
For these reasons, nearly all of the events in this series are free to all.
But OEFFA can’t achieve this mission alone. Please consider making a voluntary donation to help OEFFA grow the next generation of farms and farmers. Thank you for your generosity.
Checks can be mailed to: 41 Croswell Rd., Columbus, OH 43214 (please note “Farm Tours” in memo line).
Farm Tours
Organic Apple Orchard Tour
Friday, June 16—1 p.m.
Charlie’s Apples
Farmers Seth Dobbelaer and Zachary Dobbelaer
(513) 485-2679 | windyhillapplefarm@gmail.com
1740 Sportsman Club Rd., Newark, OH 43055 (Licking County)
charlies-apples.com
Walk through a start-to-finish experience of Charlie’s Apples’ yearly operations. Attendees will see and hear about their barn, orchard equipment, processing and packing facility, pollinator habitat, the orchard itself, as well as pest-management, nutrient application, and biological fungicide program. This tour will also have a conversation about the operation’s challenges with Marssonina Leaf Blotch and how they are implementing a research project in partnership with North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) to reduce its impacts.
Parking: Parking is available at the top of the driveway once you enter the farm. There will be signs indicating where to park.
Dairy Farm Tour and Pasture Walk
Saturday, June 17—10 a.m.-Noon
Bear Cave Farm
Farmers Jeff and Ina Miller
(330) 231-9647 | 69jeffmiller@gmail.com
7328 Township Rd. 664, Dundee, OH 44624 (Holmes County)
Bear Cave Farm is an OEFFA certified, grass-based, Organic Valley dairy farm focusing on growing pasture and hay with some additional corn. They have been practicing foliar feeding of their grass crops, recently beginning to apply a dry blend of time-released trace minerals to increase fertility. This tour will highlight the benefits of the trace minerals on pastures and hay, along with a comprehensive tour of their dairy operation.
Elderberry Farm Tour
Saturday, June 24—10 a.m.-Noon
Mucky Boots Farm
Farmers Heather Jobson and Elizabeth Barr
(513) 609-1831
630 Davis Memorial Rd., Peebles, OH 45660 (Adams County)
muckybootsfarm.com
Mucky Boots Farm is a small, woman-owned elderberry orchard and farm in southern Ohio. They grow the berries for their elderberry syrup business, selling at markets and online. This tour will explore their elderberry field, visit with the ducks, and enjoy a syrup sample.
U-Pick Blackberry Farm Tour
Sunday, July 16—10 a.m.-Noon
Indian Springs Berry Farm
Farmer Jason Pratt
jason@indianspringsberryfarm.com
2840 Tylersville Rd., Hamilton, OH 45015 (Butler County)
indianspringsberryfarm.com
Indian Springs Berry Farm is a 2-acre, veteran-owned, u-pick blackberry farm setup using the Rotating Cross Arm Trellis system. This tour will discuss seasonal blackberry farming operations, u-pick operations, trellis usage and modifications, and the development of custom electric work carts. July is the peak season for blackberry production, so participants will be able to see the later stages of blackberry growth. Blackberries may be available for purchase after the tour, depending on weekly production.
Parking: Parking is available at 2788 Tylersville Rd., Hamilton, OH 45015. It is a used car lot about 500 feet west of the big white barn. Please park on the east end of the lot, toward the farm.
Stewarding a Legacy Farm Tour and Grain Growers Chapter Meeting
Saturday, August 5—10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Dalton Farms
Farmers Edward and Rebecca Dalton
rebecca@daltonfarmsllc.com
5073 Butler Rd., Wakeman, OH 44889 (Huron County)
daltonfarmsllc.com
As seventh generation farmers, Edward and Rebecca Dalton know what it was like to have inherited a legacy. Wanting the same for future generations, they decided to change their current practices and transition half of their farm to organic production. In addition to growing organic crops, they produce conventional crops, raise beef, do custom zapping, and collaborate with local farms to supply customers with fresh meat like chicken and pork.
An OEFFA Grain Growers Chapter meeting will take place before the tour from 10-11:45 a.m. Bring a side dish or dessert to share for a potluck lunch from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Meat, drinks, and serviceware will be provided. The tour will begin at 1 p.m.
Registration: To register for the potluck, contact Dave Shively at (419) 438-2192 or dshively01@gmail.com.
Chestnut Production and Packing Farm Tour
Saturday, August 12—1-3 p.m.
Route 9 Cooperative
Farmers Greg and Amy Miller
empirechestnut@gmail.com
4300 Germano Rd. SE (Route 9), Carrollton, OH 44615 (Carroll County)
In 1957, Greg Miller’s father started planting chestnut trees as a hobby. From there, it turned into a family business with his daughter, Amy. A nearby coal company planted chestnut trees, sold it, and the three new landowners, along with Greg, formed a cooperative now encompassing five orchards. During this tour, guests will see a mature chestnut orchard with and without deer fence, younger plantings of chestnuts, and the harvested nuts’ packing facility.
CSA Veggie Farm Tour
Saturday, September 30—3 p.m.
Blaney Family Farm
Farmer Adam Blaney
(304) 520-9800 | blaneyfarmohio@gmail.com
29760 State Route 143, Albany, OH 45710 (Meigs County)
blaneyfamilyfarm.com
Adam and Tabitha Blaney are first generation farmers settled in the hills of southeastern Ohio. They grow a variety of vegetables and flowers using sustainable and organic practices and run a CSA supplying local restaurants with produce. Starting in 2006 in West Virginia, learning more in Missouri, and finally moving to Albany, Ohio in 2019, they have been a staple at the Athens Farmers’ Market since. These farmers are always looking for ways to improve efficiency, expand sustainably, and learn as much as they can while giving back to the community.
Alternative Livestock Farm Tour
Saturday, October 7—10 a.m.-Noon
Covered Bridge Yaks
Farmers Mathys
(937) 309-1839 | blakemathys@hotmail.com
23839 State Route 47, West Mansfield, OH 43358 (Union County)
coveredbridgeyaks.com
Yaks are unusual livestock, but their small body size and cold-hardy habits make them easy to keep. Since buying their first yak in 2015, Covered Bridge Yaks now has a small herd for meat and producing calves to sell on their 60 acres. This tour will show the yaks, discuss their benefits, and explain how they differ from traditional beef cattle.
Directions and Parking: Find the driveway with the black “Mathys 23839” mailbox. There is a covered bridge ⅔ down the driveway; it is safe for passenger vehicles. Parking will be in a pasture past the house.
Workshops and Special Events
PaddockTrac Demonstration
Thursday, June 1—10 a.m.-Noon
Friday, October 13—10 a.m.-Noon
Settlage Dairy Farm
12218 State Route 29, Saint Marys, OH 45885 (Auglaize County)
Settlage is a veteran-owned, certified organic dairy with more than 300 acres of perennial and annual pasture. This pasture walk will focus on PaddockTrac, a technology developed by University of Missouri researchers that uses an ATV-mounted sensor to measure and predict forage availability. The spring and fall events will allow for a comparison of the PaddockTrac performance over the seasons. A pasture walk will be followed by a demonstration and a review of data collected to date.
Shaping Change
Monday, June 12—10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Methodist Theological School in Ohio
3081 Columbus Pike, Delaware, OH 43015 (Delaware County)
Bringing about positive change in something as comprehensive as the food and farming system isn’t quick or easy. But every five years we have a unique opportunity to work toward that change together. Join OEFFA staff, farmers, and other advocacy leaders to hear about the 2023 Farm Bill, sharpen your advocacy skills, and learn how, working together, we can make sure it meets the needs of our communities.
Pick and Picnic with a Farmer
Thursday, July 13—5:30 p.m.
Bexley Farmers’ Market
S. Dawson Ave. at E. Main St., Bexley, OH 43209 (Franklin County)
Wednesday, October 4—4:30 p.m.
Upper Arlington Farmers’ Market
2140 Tremont Center, Upper Arlington, OH 43221 (Littleton Market’s parking lot) (Franklin County)
Nobody knows the farmers’ market or seasonal eating better than a farmer! In this free outing and picnic, farmer and cheese maker Abbe Turner of Lucky Penny Creamery will share her insider strategies for getting the most out of a trip to the market at any time of year. After a chance to shop, convene for a picnic and enjoy your market bounty together. There will be a summer eating focused picnic at Bexley Farmers’ Market and a fall focused picnic at Upper Arlington.
Details: Meet at the market’s Community Tent and bring whatever cash you wish to spend on groceries and a blanket for picnicking. OEFFA will provide iced tea for the picnic.
Prepare to Negotiate Your Land Arrangement
Tuesday, July 18—7-8:30 p.m.
Virtual
Sunday, July 23—10 a.m.-Noon
Maish Meadows Farm & Preserve
Fayette County
Are you in the process of negotiating to lease, purchase, or transfer land? This two-part workshop, adapted from American Farmland Trust’s Transitioning Land to a New Generation, will be led by certified Land Access and Transfer Trainer, Kelly Cabral.
In the virtual portion, participants will plan to negotiate, practice communication skills to reach agreement, and prepare to manage stress. The on-farm component will include a farm tour and Q&A with Maish Meadows Farm & Preserve, a 62-acre carbon-negative farm utilizing regenerative practices and rotational grazing.
Cost and Registration: $20 for OEFFA members; $25 for non-members. Registration is limited to 15; each registration includes up to two people per farm or business. Registrants will receive the exact location and more details.
Register at bit.ly/oeffa-land-arrangement.
We CAN!
Thursday, July 20—6:30 p.m.
Glass Rooster Cannery
1673 South State Route 605, Sunbury, OH 43074 (Delaware County)
Make jam while you learn to put up your harvest in a water bath canning lesson! Taste your way through samples of jam while learning the ins and outs of water bath canning, then dive into a hands-on lesson creating your own signature jar of jam. Walk away with confidence to know not only how to make jam, but also how to safely water bath your preserves at home.
Cost and Registration: $35 for OEFFA members; $45 for non-members. This includes all materials and a jar of jam. Registration is limited to 20 and closes July 12.
Register at bit.ly/oeffa-can.
Ohio Beginning Farmer Tax Credit
Friday, September 8—Noon
Virtual
This webinar will explore how the new Ohio Beginning Farmer Tax Credit works, how it can benefit your farm business, how you can take advantage of this exciting opportunity to transfer your farm to a beginning farmer, and how beginning farmers can connect with more affordable land.
Registration:
Register at bit.ly/oeffa-tax-credit.
Employment on Your Farm 101
Thursday, November 9—1-2:30 p.m.
Virtual
Are you exploring ways to bring in employees or interns that truly benefit your operation? Wondering what you’ll need to do this successfully, safely, and legally?
This course is designed for farm business owners or managers of all levels to make informed hiring choices and to be an employer that truly supports its team with the most up-to-date industry standards.
Registration: Includes a packet of resources.
Register at bit.ly/oeffa-employment-101.
Finding a Farm Job 101
Sunday, December 10—2-4 p.m.*
Virtual
Do you feel called to farm? Are you looking for a job or internship on a farm that shares your values and develops your skills? Do you just want a chance to work outdoors and eat good food?
Whatever your work or learning goals, there are many factors to consider in finding a job that helps you reach them while staying safe and healthy. This free online course is designed for people who are just entering the field. Learn about common industry standards, different types of jobs and internships, cultural norms and expectations, where to search for farm jobs, employee rights and safety, and more!
*Please note this is an updated date and time.
Registration: Includes a packet of resources.
Register at bit.ly/oeffa-farm-job-101.
Safety Protocols at On-Farm Events
Under Ohio law, there is no liability for an injury to or death of a participant in an agritourism activity conducted at an agritourism location if that injury or death results from the inherent risks of that agritourism activity. These include, but are not limited to, the risk of injury inherent to land, equipment, and animals as well as the potential for you as a participant to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to your injury or death. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity.
Partners
Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association
41 Croswell Rd.
Columbus OH 43214
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orgOEFFA:(614) 421-2022 (614) 421-2022
OEFFA Certification:(614) 262-2022 (614) 262-2022